Pattern mechanism.



Patenfed Ja-n. 3 0, |900.

F. wlLnMA-N.

PATTERN MEGHANISM.

fAppXication fled July 19, 1899.1

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

mi News persas mam-uma., WASHINGTON, u. A;

F. B.y WILDMAN.

. PATTERN MECHAN-ISM.

(no mod'eL) I (Application filed July 19, 1899.1

Patented qa". 3o, |906 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

iINrrE STATES ATENT Prien.

FRANK B. VVILDMAN, OF NORRISTOVN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T THE MOMICHAELda WILDMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

PATTERN MEC-HNISVI.

srneiricnrrolv forming part of Letters :Patent No. 642,402, datedJanuary 3o, 190e.

Application tiled July 19, 1899. Serial No. 724,405. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ wil/0711, it' may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK B. WILDMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Norristown, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Pattern Mechanism, of which the followingis aspeciiication.

My invention is an improvement in pattern mechanisms forknitting-machines designed for measuring ott the desired length offabric of any particular style of knitting and for changing thecharacter of the stitch as called for by the pattern or style of garmentto be produced.

In carrying out my invention I arrange my pattern mechanism to becarried by and travel with the moving parts of the machine, and I haveshown it as carried by the rotating takeup mechanism being supported onthe rotary take-up plate to travel or rotate with the cylinder. I do notwish to limit myself, however, to the type of machine in which theneedle-bed travels.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine with partsin section and parts removed. Fig. 2 is a detail sectionalV view on line2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a plan View with parts in section, the .upperstructure being omitted.

In the drawings, 1 represents the cylinder, which is operated by thegear 3 through any suitable driving connections. The cylinder andadjacent parts are supportedY by the standards 4, connected at theirlower ends with a fixed hase-ring 5. This fixed basering supports atake-up plate 6, which rotates on a flange 7 of the base-ring. Thistake-up plate is rotated in unison with the cylinder, being connectedtherewith by the standards S. These standards have bearings in which thetake-up rolls 9 9 are journaled. The pattern wheel or ring consists of aring or plate 11, carried by the movable section 10 of the take-up plate6. This section of the take-np plate is seated on the flange 12 of saidplate, and it rotates with the take-up plate and cylinder. Thepattern-wheel is held to the section lO of the take-up plate by theclips 13, and springs 14 serve to put the pattern-wheel under frictionalrestraint, so that it will rotate with the take-u p plate, but is yetadapted to have rotary movement independent of the take-up ring orplate. The take-up ring rotates in the direction of the arrow a in Fig.3. It has gear-teeth 16 on its edge meshing with a pinion 17, journaledin the fixed base-ring 5. The pinion also meshes with gear-teeth on thesection lOof the take-up ring, and as the teeth of this section are onemore in number than the teeth on the main part of the take-up ring thesaid section will be rotated 0r moved on the take-up ring the distanceof one tooth for each revolution of the machine, and this rotation willbe in the direction ofthe arrow b or backward in relation to thedirection of rotary motion of the take-up ring. This slow motion of thesection 10 on the rotating take-up ring is imparted to the pattern wheelor ring, for, as before stated, the pattern-wheelisin frictionalengagement with the section 10 by means of the clips 13 and the springs14. It will thus be seen that while the pattern-wheel rotates with thetakeup plate and cylinder of the machine it has in addition a slowmovement 011 and in relation to the take-up plate, so that itspatterncontrolling studs or cams are advanced slowly toward theconnections which are to be operated thereby, a part of whichconnections are also carried on the take-up plate. The pattern-wheel hascam or pattern studs 18 with beveled tops, which are adapted to beplaced in any one of the series of holes 19 with which the pattern-wheelis provided. The slow movement of the pattern-wheel on the take-up platewill after the predetermined interval bring one of the cam-studs to thelever 20, which is pivoted at 21 on the take-up plate, so as to movetherewith and bear a tixed relation thereto. This lever has an arm 22,connected witha rod 23, extending vertically and connected with theslide 24, which carries at its upper end a roller or disk 25. The slideis guided in a bracket 26 of one of the cylinder-standards, and thelever is held up normally at its innerv end by a spring 27, so that therod will be held elevated, together with the roller. So long as thisposition is maintained the machine will do one kind of knitting, as theroller is then fg elia-10a in the plane of an arm 28, attached toarockshaft 29, having suit-able bearings at 30 in the fixed frame andconnected at its upper end by a rod 3l with the controlling means forthe needle-cams. When the rolleror disk 25 is lowered, it will then bein the plane of an arm 28', which is carried by a pin journaled in thebearing 30 and having a geared connection at with the shaft, so thatwhen the latter arm is struck it will return the shaft 29 to its formerposition, and the machine will then do another kind of knitting. Thedepression of this roller is controlled by the pattern-studs and patternmechanism, for when a pattern-stud is forced under the end of the leverit will be lifted, and thus the roller will be depressed.

As before stated, the slow movement of the pattern wheel or disk on therotary take-up plate, due to the differential gearing, will bring one ofthe pattern-studs to the lever 20, which is also carried bythe rotaryplate, and in order to force the cam or pattern stud under the end ofthe lever I employ a springpawl 35, carried by a lever 36, pivoted tothe stud 37, carried by the take-up plate and having its end in the pathof a stud or studs 38, fixed to the fixed base-ring 5, so that the pawlwill be operated, as shown, once at each revolution of the machine,ormore frequently, if desired. The pattern wheel or ring has ratchet-teeth39 on its edge, and guard-plates 40 are secured to the pattern wheel orring to cover certain of the teeth and prevent the movement of the pawlfrom having any effect on the pattern-wheel, except at intervalsdetermined by the pattern to be formed. These guard-plates are removed,therefore, from those teeth which are to be effective in operating thepattern-wheel. The pattern-studs and these uncovered teeth bear such arelative position to each other on the patternwheel that when thepattern-stud has arrived at the lever 20, as shown in Fig. 3, by reasonof the slow movement of the pattern-wheel on the take-up plate the pawlfalls into the uncovered tooth, as shown in said Fig. 3, and then therotation of the machine will cause the pawl-lever to strike the pin 38,and the pattern-wheel will then be given a quick movement by the pawl,thus forcing the stud under the lever20 and operating the said lever tochange the pattern or style of knitting through the connectionsdescribed. The frictional resistance between the pattern-wheel andtake-up-plate section l0 is overcome by the stronger action of the pawl,and the action is rendered certain and definite. The end of the lever 20is beveled to permit the cam-stud to be forced under it. The lever hasan extension 20', so as to cover two camstuds at once and preventvibration by the lever fallingin between the studs. The pawl havingshifted the pattern-wheel to cause the quick operation of theconnections leading to the needle-cam-controlling means, thepattern-studs would be different heights.

the wheel may be moved around quickly to the point of starting after thepattern is iinished by leaving off the guard-plates from theratchet-teeth. The pawl will then be effective on every tooth lyingbetween the end and the beginning of the pattern.

The pattern may be varied so as to call for two, three, or moredifferent kin ds of stitches, so that While the machine isknitting thedisk 25 will need to be elevated and depressed to different planes inorder to shift it into line with either of two or more sets of leverswhich connect with the controlling devices of the needle-cams-as, forinstance, for producing loose courses, welts, tucking or cardiganstitch-and to accomplish this the pat- The pattern-wheel being heldsimply by friction can be moved by hand forward or backward to thestarting-point at any time.

From the above it will be seen that the take-up plate and its section l0form part of the pattern mechanism. This pattern mechanism, consideredasa whole, travels in unison with the needle-bed; but in addition tothis movement in unison a part of the pattern mechanism-4l. c., thewheel-has a slow movement either forward or backward in relation to thetake-up plate and cylinder. By my invention I provide a combined take-upand pattern mechanism, as the take-up plate performs a twofold function,it being employed in awell-known manner through gearing il 42 to supportthe take-up mechanism and byits rotation to operate it and alsoperforming the functions set forth above in connection with the patternmechanism.

It will be seen that the take-up plate or ring forms a traveling carrierfor the pattern-wheel and also for the take-up-mechanism, and both ofthese mechanisms are operated through gearing which is in connectionwith the main frame of the machine.

The pawl-lever 36 is under tension of the spring 50, which returns itafter each operation against the stop-pin 5l.

I claimas my invention- 1. In combination with a knitting-machine havinga traveling part, pattern mechanism comprising a carrier with adjustablepattern pins or studs having traveling movement with said part, meanswhereby the traveling movement of the pattern mechanism will cause thesame to be operated.' and connections operated by the studs or pins insuccession for changing the pattern, substantially as described.

IOO

IIO

2. In combination in a circular-knitting machine having a rotary part,means for adjusting the needle-cams to alter the pattern, connectionsleading to said means, and pattern mechanism arrangedapart from the camring and cylinder and rotating with the traveling part of the machineand arranged also to operate the said connections, said patternmechanism comprising adjustable parts to alter the pattern and meanswhereby the traveling movement of the pattern mechanism will cause thesame to be operated, substantially as described.

3. In combination in a knitting-machine, a

traveling part and pattern mechanism travcling in unison with the saidpart and having a series of pattern-studs, said pattern mechanism beingprovided with a portion having a slow movement in addition to saidtraveling movement whereby the patternstuds are brought into positionfor operation and means for imparting said slow movement as the patternmechanism travels, substantially as described.

4. In combination in a circular-knitting machine, a pattern mechanismhaving adjustable pattern pins or studs and arranged concentric with themachine operating means therefor, and connections to be operated by saidstuds in succession, substantially as described.

5. In combination with a circular-knitting machine, pattern mechanismrotating with the machine and arranged concentric in relation to theaxis thereof with means for moving said pattern mechanism continuouslyas the machine rotates, subst-antially as described.

6. A circular-knitting machine having a rotating needle-bed, a take-upmechanism rotating in unison with the fabric and pattern means rotatingwith the take-up mechanism and fabric, substantially as described.

7. In combination in a circular-knitting machine, a rotary needle-bed, atake-up mechanism for the fabric rotating in unison with the rotarymovement of the needle-bed and pattern mechanism rotating with thetakeup, with means for causing the operation of the pattern mechanismfrom said rotary movement.

S. In combination in a knitting-machine, the rotary needle-bed thecam-ring, a rotary pattern mechanism comprising a carrier connected tothe bed to rotate therewith and a pattern or stud ring thereon,connections from the pattern mechanism to the needle-controlling camsand means for causing the operation of the pattern mechanism during saidrotation, substantially as described.

9. In combination, the rotary needle-bed or other traveling part, arotary pattern-wheel in connection therewith to travel with the saidpart and having adjustable patternstuds,con nections between thepattern-wheel and the controlling-cams, carrier means for thepattern-wheel arranged independent of the cylinder and cam-ring andmeansfor giving the pattern-wheel a movement on the carrier said carriertraveling with the traveling part of the machine.

l0. A combined pattern and take-up mechanism for knitting-machines andthe like comprising a traveling part and take-up and pattern meanscarried thereby with means for operating the same, substantially asdescribed.

1l. A combined pattern and take-up mechanism for knitting-machines andthe like comprising a traveling part, take-up means carried thereby,pattern means also carried thereby, a fixed frame and gearing betweenthe same and the take-up and pattern means respectively for operatingthe same, substantially as described.

l2. In combination Awith a knitting or like machine, a combined take-upand pattern mechanism with operating means therefor said take-up andpattern mechanism traveling with a traveling part of the machine, saidpattern mechanism bein g operated by the said traveling movement.

13. A pattern mechanism for knitting-machines and the like comprising acarrier means for causing said-carrier to travel in unison with atraveling part of the machine, patterncontrolling means on saidtraveling carrier means for giving the vsame a slow movement in relationto and upon the traveling carrier and means for giving saidpattern-controlling means a quick movement on said carrier,substantially as described.

14. In combination in a circular-knitting machine, a rotary needle-bedor other part, a rotary pattern-wheel, a rotary carrier therefortraveling in unison with the needle-bed or other part, means for givingthe patternwheel a slow movement on the rotary carrier, means for givingthe pattern-wheel a quick movement on the rotary carrier and connectionsbetween the pattern-wheel and parts to be controlled, substantially asdescribed.

15. In combination in a circular-knitting machine, pattern mechanismconcentric with the needle-circle comprising a pattern-wheel, a rotarycarrier therefor, means for giving the pattern-Wheel a slow movement onsaid carrier, means for giving the pattern-wheel a quick movement onsaid carrier and connections leading from the pattern mechanism to theparts to be controlled, substantially as described.

16. A pattern mechanism comprising a moving carrier, a pattern devicethereon, means IOO IIO

for giving the pattern device a slow moverier and means for giving thepattern device a rapid movement on the carrier, substantially asdescribed.

18. In combination, the pattern-Wheel having ratchet-teeth, the carriercomprising the two sections having differential gear-teeth thereon, onesection being movable on the other, a gear for operating the twosections, a pawl for engaging the ratchet-teeth to operate thepattern-wheel and means for operating the pawl 19. In combination, thepattern-Wheel, having ratchet-teeth, a toothed ring having frictionalengagement therewith to move the pattern-Wheel, a carrier for thetoothed ring, a pawl with operating means for moving the pattern-Wheeland connections leading from the pattern-wheel to the parts to becontrolled.

20. In combination, the pattern-Wheel, a r0- tary carrier, having teeth,a toothed section carried thereby and having frictional engagement withthe pattern-Wheel, a pawl for engaging the teeth of the pattern-Wheel,removable guard-plates for the said teeth, a pinion engaging the teethofthe section and carrier to give the toothed section a slow movement onthe toothed carrier by reason of theteeth being differential and a leveron the movable carrier to be operated by the pattern-Wheel andconnections leading from the lever to the parts' to be controlled,substantially as decribed.

2l. In combination with the rotary cylinv der, a take-up plate rotatingin unison therewith, take-up means supported on said plate, a ring orsection carried by the plate, with means for giving it a slow movementon the plate, a pattern-Wheel carried by the section, means for givingthe pattern-Wheel a quick movement and connections leading from thepattern-Wheel to the parts to be controlled.

22. In combination, the rotary cylinder, the take-up plate, rotatingWith the cylinder,take up means on the plate, a section carried by thetake-np plate, differential teeth on takeup plate and section, a pinionrelatively fixed and meshing with the teeth ofthe plate and section togive the section a movement oveil the plate, a pattern-Wheel carried byfriction on the section of the plate, said pattern-Wheel havingratchet-teeth, a paWl supported on the take-up pla-te for engaging saidteeth, removable guards for shielding the teeth from engagement with thepaWl and means on the fixed frame for operating the pawl, and a levercarried by the take-np plate to be operated by the pattern-Wheel withconnections leading from said lever to the parts to be controlled,substantially as described.

23. A pattern mechanism comprising a movable part connected to travelcontinuously with a traveling part of the machine, means for giving thepart an additional slow movement, means for giving it a rapidintermittentA movement and connections controlled by said movable part,substantially as described.

24. In combination in a circular-knitting machine, with the cam ring andcylinder, a pattern mechanism rotating in a horizontal plane and out ofthe horizontal plane of the cam ring and cylinder with means foroperating the said mechanism, pattern-studs carried adjustably by thepattern mechanism and connections operated by said studs substantiallyas described.

25. In combination, the cam ring and cylinder, a pattern mechanismconcentric With the axis thereof, said pattern mechanism rotating in adifferent horizontal plane from that of the cam ring and cylinder andmeans for operating the'pattern mechanism patternstuds carriedadjustably by the pattern mechanism and connections operated by saidstuds.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK B. WILDMAN.

Witnesses:

FLORENCE E. SHAW, SARAH E. TovvNsEND.

